Department of Economics - DiECO

The Department of Economics at the University of Insubria offers degree programs in the fields of economics and management. Our educational offer is characterized by a balanced combination of disciplines across economics, management, mathematics-statistics, and law. The objective is to train graduates who stand out not only for their solid foundational knowledge but also for their practical skills, cultivated and developed throughout their studies, which are immediately applicable in the job market (including businesses, public agencies, local institutions, as well as national and international research centers and/or universities focused on economics, etc.).

Initially established to meet the education and research needs of the local area, DiECO launched a significant internationalization process several years ago. This is reflected both in teaching (with a Master’s degree program taught entirely in English and Double Degree agreements) and in research, through scientific collaborations with foreign universities and qualified research institutes, as well as the Department's participation in international research projects, which also bring important benefits to local economic and institutional stakeholders.

The Department of Economics is characterized by four research areas - economics, law, management, and quantitative methods - which reflect the scientific-disciplinary sectors of the faculty members belonging to the Department.

The diverse research themes and the opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration are key strengths, highly valued in research activities, and their effectiveness has been successfully integrated into teaching as well.

In addition to the prestigious "Department of Excellence" recognition in 2023, members of DiECO have been honored with several national and international awards, including: the European Society for the History of Economic Thought (ESHET) Award in 2016, the Kapp Prize from the European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy (EAEPE) in 2020, the FarmaFactoring Award in 2020, the Young Scholars Award from the International Network for Economic Method (INEM) in 2023, and two awards for the best PhD theses from the Italian Society of Transport Economics and the Regional Council of Lombardy in 2025.

DiECO has always been particularly active in knowledge valorization, for the benefit of local stakeholders. The Department's initiatives in this field are numerous and diverse, aiming to contribute to the social, cultural, and economic development of the region in which we operate.

The collaboration between the Department’s faculty and local authorities, businesses, associations, and professional bodies is of great relevance. This collaboration is designed to launch consulting activities focused on developing applied research projects, educational initiatives, placement activities, and the promotion of numerous scientific dissemination events.

DiECO ensures quality across its teaching and research activities through its governing bodies (the Department Director and the Department Board) and via dedicated committees (AiQua, AiQuaR, CPDS). These bodies operate in compliance with legislative, statutory, and regulatory provisions to guarantee the Quality Assurance (QA) system defined by the University and to undertake initiatives aimed at continuous improvement.

In particular, within the framework of educational quality assurance, a key role is played by the Degree Program Coordinators. They serve as the primary point of contact for students regarding any quality-related issues in their educational path that cannot be directly managed by instructors in the classroom. Equally important are faculty engagement and student representation within the established committees, such as the CPDS (Joint Faculty-Student Committee), alongside awareness and updates directed toward students, faculty, and both internal and external stakeholders.

The Department has also established additional Committees within its structure, entrusted with specific tasks in the fields of teaching, research, or the third mission.